Azzurra leads TEAMORIGIN. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.
by Jill Campbell
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s team Azzurra today completed their final two matches of the Round Robin phase of the Louis Vuitton Trophy and, thanks to victory taken over Britain’s Team Origin, will now progress to the quarter finals. Tension was high as Azzurra lost their first match to America’s Cup Defender BMW Oracle but the all-Italian team skippered by Francesco Bruni with Tommaso Chieffi on tactics sailed an excellent second match against Team Origin to take the vital point and avoid elimination.
Azzurra met BMW Oracle Racing, skippered by America’s Cup winner James Spithill in the fourth match of the day. The warning signal sounded at 13.50 and Spithill, aided by Olympic medalist, around the world skipper and America's Cup tactician Jon Kostecki, took the start in approximately 20 knots of wind. BMW Oracle immediately took a comfortable lead and crossed ahead of Azzurra to round the windward mark 26 seconds ahead. Azzurra was unable to close the gap and trailed the Americans in the following legs with deltas of 28 and 30 seconds at the respective marks. Bruni managed to regain ground on the final downwind run and crossed the finish line 15 seconds behind Spithill.
The defeat left Azzurra tied on three points with Luna Rossa and BMW Oracle Racing and meant that the team’s hopes of progressing to the quarter final phase were pinned on their final race of the Round Robin against Team Origin, helmed by four-time Olympic medalist and three-time ISAF World Sailor of the Year Ben Ainslie.
Francesco Bruni started well on the starboard end of the starting line with Ainslie opting for the left and the two remained close on the first upwind leg with Azzurra leading by 14 seconds. Team Origin attacked on downwind but Bruni defended well and rounded the downwind gate 19 seconds ahead. The final upwind leg saw Azzurra choose the left side of the course and tear away from the British team, building their lead to 48 seconds at the second windward mark. The final downwind run confirmed Azzurra’s domination with the Italians powering away and crossing the finishing line 1 minute 3 seconds ahead of Team Origin.
Francesco Bruni gives the thumbs up on Azzurra. Image copyright Stefano Gattini/Azzurra.
Francesco Bruni was on the whole pleased with the day’s racing: “It was a good and a bad day at the same time. Fortunately we got back on form after the defeat by BMW Oracle, we got our coordination and timing back and we were able to get through to the quarter finals. Both regattas depended on the start: in the first I had a good pre-start but then I made a time-on-distance error and I started late and gave control to Spithill who raced a fantastic match and never took the pressure off us.
"In the second we had a great start, we were exactly where we wanted to be and we controlled Team Origin. Tommaso Chieffi and the afterguard did a great job interpreting the wind and the tactics. The guys did a great job in the manoeuvres as well, even in the most tense moments. Now we have to keep up the good work and carry on down this road. The field is still completely open.”
Tomorrow the Race Committee will aim to complete the last four matches of the Round Robin and, if possible, begin the quarter final matches. North north-westerly winds of 18 to 24 knots are predicted.
Azzurra
Louis Vuitton Trophy
